Liverpool new boy Coates aims to emulate ‘outstanding’ Skrtel

Sebastián Coates admits he is privileged to learn from the likes of Martin Skrtel PA Photos

Sebastián Coates is aiming to emulate Liverpool’s “outstanding” Martin Skrtel and become a top defender in the Premier League.

The 21-year-old sealed a £7m move to Liverpool last summer, and the Uruguayan defender scored his first Reds goal with an unstoppable overhead kick in a 3-2 defeat by Queens Park Rangers last week.

Coates has been limited to 11 appearances in his first season at Liverpool, but he knows patience is required with the likes of Daniel Agger, Jamie Carragher and Skrtel ahead of him in the pecking order.

“I feel more settled now as the months and the time goes by the period becomes a lot more easy,” Coates told Liverpool’s website.

“I am enjoying the football and I know I have to be patient to play more games, purely because the other defenders have been so consistent for a long time.

“That is the nature of defence. Especially in that position, when it is working, you don’t change it.

“It is a privilege to train and play with them [Agger, Carragher and Skrtel] youngster. “Martin has been outstanding this season and is an example to me because he originally came from a completely different country with an alternate philosophy on football and has made himself a success.

“During the sessions I watch all of my teammates closely because you can learn from any position, not just your own.

“You see the central defenders at Liverpool and they all have attributes that are different.

“Each one can defend properly, of course, but Danny is very good with the ball at his feet, Martin has the type of aggression any defender needs to succeed coming from abroad, while Carra is a leader – a communicator who has helped me a lot when we have played together.”